With a growing emphasis on financial inclusion and a $45 billion loyalty market on the rise, Galileo Financial Technologies is stepping up to fill a critical gap: making loyalty rewards accessible to the 46 million Americans underserved by the credit card market. In a conversation with PYMNTS.com’s Hal Levey, Galileo CPO David Feuer detailed the company’s new co-branded debit rewards program—and how it’s opening fresh opportunities for brands and consumers alike.

How Debit Rewards Programs Are Expanding Financial Inclusion

Traditionally, loyalty rewards programs have been tightly linked to credit card usage. But credit isn’t always the right fit—or even an option—for everyone. Galileo’s new program changes that, allowing brands to offer credit-style loyalty perks through debit cards. This enables users to earn rewards without needing access to credit, and it helps brands reach a previously overlooked segment of the market.

Co-Branded Debit Cards: The Untapped Opportunity for Brand Loyalty

“This is about meeting people where they are,” Feuer explained. “We’re not trying to creditize people—we’re helping brands engage with customers already using debit cards and enabling them to earn meaningful rewards.”

Launching Co-Branded Debit Cards in Just Months

One of the challenges in standing up co-branded programs is the time and complexity involved. Launching a debit card typically takes more than a year due to banking, compliance, and technology hurdles. Galileo’s integrated approach significantly shortens that timeline.

By combining issuing, processing, and program management into a single platform, Galileo eliminates the need for brands to coordinate across multiple vendors. Its financial services hub connects to more than 25 bank partners and includes technology assets like Cyberbank Digital, a platform inherited from its Technisys acquisition that powers digital experiences for over 50 banks globally.

This infrastructure enables brands to launch tailored programs in a matter of months, not years—an essential advantage for industries like retail, travel, and hospitality that move quickly and expect the same from their financial partners.

How Debit Rewards Programs Work Across Multiple Industries

Although the program is initially focused on travel and hospitality—where demand from younger consumers is high—Galileo sees broad applicability across sectors. Feuer emphasized that the decision to begin there was market-driven, not strategic.

“There’s nothing vertical-specific about our solution. We’re seeing interest from retail and other sectors, and our platform is built to scale across industries,” he said.

This flexibility allows brands to tailor the loyalty experience to their audience, whether that’s traditional points for travel or non-traditional rewards like retail discounts or point transfers.

Debit Rewards’ Economic Viability in a Post-Durbin World

Feuer also addressed why debit rewards programs haven’t taken off sooner. While the Durbin Amendment reshaped interchange economics, he pointed out that scale—not regulation—was the real differentiator. Large banks once had the scale to make rewards viable, but most smaller players couldn’t match that.

“Galileo brings that scale,” Feuer said. “We support over 168 million accounts and work with banks not constrained by Durbin. That allows us to offer viable programs that were previously out of reach.”

End-to-End Loyalty Program Management

Once a program is launched, Galileo stays involved as a full-service partner. That includes everything from fraud management and onboarding to customer service and continuous optimization. The goal is not only to get brands to market quickly but to ensure long-term success.

“It’s about resonating with the market,” Feuer concluded. “We help brands deliver rewards that matter—on a platform that evolves with customer needs.”

By expanding access, accelerating launches, and simplifying operations, Galileo is helping brands transform the way they think about loyalty—and ensuring more consumers benefit in the process.

Want to Learn More? 

Contact Galileo today to learn how your brand can tap into the debit rewards opportunity.